I've posted so little in thaivisa but been a member for a long while. Tom yum talay is my favorite dish in thailand, made with a lime and coconut milk base and come with prawns, fish, and squid. I would like to know other member's favorite places to find this great dish in bangkok and pattaya. I have tried many restaurants but often the taste is just average so always go back to the best I have found in bangkok and that is the Nana cafe (surprising?). Pricey at 250 Baht but is very good. Never have found a good tom yum in Pattaya. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Tom yam is a clear soup and does not contain any coconut milk.

Tom yam nam khon is a recent invention. It's basically tom yam with a splash of milk, condensed milk or coconut milk.

Neither has "a lime and coconut milk base".

Tom kha is coconut milk-based. Perhaps that's what the OP is referring to?

There's a place on soi 15 Suk, No matter what else gets ordered an order of Tom Yam talag is always good.

"Tom yam is a clear soup and does not contain any coconut milk.

Tom yam nam khon is a recent invention. It's basically tom yam with a splash of milk, condensed milk or coconut milk.

Neither has "a lime and coconut milk base".

Tom kha is coconut milk-based. Perhaps that's what the OP is referring to?"

LOL. You know enough just to be dangerous. Nam Khom is what the OP is referring to. Not sure what you mean by recent but if you mean the past 100 years ago, OK. Nam Sai is the clear version.

Tom Yam definitely has lime juice or it wouldn't be yam. Yam is what dishes are called if they have lime juice and chili. If you are adding milk or condensed milk in anything you are not Thai. You are corrupting a dish for westerners. Just nasty.

There are dozens of distinct styles of Tom Yam and my favorite too is like the OP suggested. You start with a seafood broth add galangal, lemon grass, coriander stems, kaffir lime leaves, you add either chilis or my favorite is nam prik pao. Then you add lime juice, fish sauce and a little bit of coconut milk. You adjust the amount of each to have a balanced flavor. Since Thai meals should contain all 5 flavors, adding coconut milk to Tom Yam satisfies 4/5 and with something bitter, your meal is complete.

As for places to buy it. I just make it myself as you have found each place does it different and spending a lot of money to find that they didn't make it to your liking is rough.

Tom Yam can be clear (Tom Yam Saai) or mixed with coconut milk and chili paste (Tom Yam Chem Kon). Cheap ass restaurants use condensed milk.

The kings of Tom Yam are Tom Yam Bho (crab) and Tom Yam Pla Neua Onn (a crispy type of fish).

Tom yum seafood nam sai (or Tom yum talay nam sai)

Tom yum seafood nam khon (or Tom yum talay nam khon)